INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cunliffe: Expats Programme Rollout

Published: Tue 1 Nov 2005 01:36 PM
Expats Programme Rollout
The Expats Programme aims to make it easier for New Zealanders to come home.
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We are here today to urge expat Kiwis to go to "New Zealand Now". Today we are rolling out the New Zealand Now website and other marketing activity to support the Expats Programme announced in August.
The Expats Programme aims to make it easier for New Zealanders to come home. We'll do this by keeping them in touch with what is really happening in New Zealand and the employment opportunities that are available here.
We are illuminating those opportunities and as you can see from the screen behind me the message is bright and clear.
We have sent a message to expatriates that the time has never been better to take another look at home with the symbolic lighting of New Zealand House in London.
We are urging them to go to New Zealand Now.
It is timely to be undertaking the programme now as:Skill and labour shortages in New Zealand are at a 30 year high and such shortages here and in other developed countries are forecast to continue over the long term due to ageing populations.We need to compete - and stay ahead - of other countries who want our peoples' skillsNew Zealand is currently well placed to attract people into the workforce due to our strong economy, low unemployment levels and skills shortages across most sectors.As the world around us becomes riskier and more complex New Zealand stands out as a great place to live, work, create and raise a family. Our lifestyle is the the envy of many other countries .New Zealand is increasingly a high-tech country, networked across the globe to facilitate leading-edge business. New Zealand is now smart, thriving and connected.The estimated 460,000 expatriates are educated, identify with New Zealand and are an ideal source for our skilled labour requirements. The largest groups live in Australia and the UK.
We know expats are prepared to listen. Three quarters of expat Kiwis - at least 300,000 people - are either intending to come home some time or will consider the option of coming home. So those people are well worth talking to and we want to give them the information to help them make their decisions. Many of them will also have partners and children - also good for our economy.
Within that group, are people with the skills we need right now in New Zealand - the builders, plumbers, managers, manufacturing experts, designers, teachers, engineers, programmers and nurses.
We asked the Department of Labour to develop a marketing and communications campaign to talk with expatriates and connect them with opportunities in New Zealand now.
Why the Department of Labour? Because ultimately this programme is about helping New Zealand employers find the workers they need and the Department has been leading the way in this for over 100 years.
And yes, the Department has a long history of marketing to people offshore.
I will hand you over now to Department of Labour Deputy Secretary Workforce Mary Anne Thompson.
But before I do, I'll leave you with some images of how we used to do this
ENDS

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